The Supreme Court on Monday refused to extend the six-month deadline for registering Waqf properties under the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025.

With the cut-off date of December 6 just days away, the Court said that applicants must go to the Waqf Tribunal, which has been set up under the revised law to handle such cases.

A Bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Augustine George Masih said the law already gives applicants a clear place to seek help.

The Court was quoted by ANI as saying, “Since a remedy for the applicants is already available before the Waqf Tribunal, they may seek the same by December 6, which we are informed is the last date for the registration of property.”

The judges added that the Court cannot step in when Parliament has already created a special forum for these disputes.

Lawyers representing the applicants argued that many people were struggling to register their properties due to issues that went beyond simply uploading details on the UMEED portal.

They pointed out problems with the digitisation of records, technical faults on the website, and delays that could occur if the Tribunal does not act before the deadline.

Some petitioners said that by the time the Tribunal hears their concerns, the December 6 window may already have closed.

The Supreme Court acknowledged that people may face real technical troubles, but stressed that they must still approach the Tribunal first.

The Bench observed: “If the time freezes (in the Portal), you cannot be held responsible. If at all the Tribunal allows you, your six months will be counted and your application will be considered. You do not need permission. If difficulty arises, you can always file an application before us.”

The judges made it clear that anyone facing portal errors will not be punished for delays they did not cause, as long as they follow the correct process.

Since the Supreme Court has refused to change the deadline, people seeking relief must now:

  • Submit their cases to the Waqf Tribunal before December 6

  • Keep proof of any technical issues faced on the UMEED portal

  • Ask the Tribunal for clarifications or more time, as it now has the power to give such relief under the new law

The decision reinforces that the Waqf Tribunal is now the main authority for any disputes under the 2025 Act.
The deadline remains unchanged unless the government or Parliament decides otherwise.